Traditional tea processing techniques and their social practices in China were added to UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on November 29th, 2022. This is the 43rd entry from China on the List. Therefore, China’s list tops all other countries.
In fact, what is on the List is not Chinese tea, but the knowledge, skills and practices concerning management of tea plantations, picking of tea leaves, and the processing, drinking and sharing of tea.
Over 2,000 tea varieties, mainly in six categories, which are green, black, yellow, oolong, white and dark, are grown in China. Although the types differ, the skills of making tea are very similar. They include inactivation (杀青), yellowing, piling, withering (萎凋), leaves shaking, cooling, fermentation (发酵) and scenting.
According to UNESCO, in China traditional tea processing techniques are closely associated with geographical location and natural environment. The techniques are mainly found in the provinces and autonomous regions of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Hunan, Anhui, Hubei, Henan, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Fujian, Guangdong and Guangxi. Associated social practices, however, are spread throughout the country and shared by multiple ethnic groups.
Tea-related customs are not only found across the country, but also influenced the rest of the world through the ancient Silk Road and trade routes. As a document from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to UNESCO explained, tea is common in Chinese people’s daily life. Steeped or boiled tea is served in homes, workplaces, tea houses, restaurants, and temples. And it is used as an important medium for communication in socializing and ceremonies such as weddings and sacrifices.
“Practices of greeting guests with tea and building good relationships within families and among neighborhoods through tea-related activities are shared among multiple ethnic groups, and provide a sense of identity and continuity for communities, groups and individuals concerned,” the document said.
5. What can we know from the text?
A.So far China has the most entries on the intangible list. |
B.Only intangible cultural heritage is worth protecting. |
C.China has the most cultural treasures worldwide. |
D.Every country in the world joins UNESCO. |
6. What does the underlined word “yellowing” in Paragraph 3 mean?
A.Select the yellow tea leaves. | B.Make tea leaves become yellow. |
C.Add some yellow liquid to it. | D.Use yellow boxes to collect leaves. |
7. What is Paragraph 5 mainly about?
A.Varieties of Chinese tea. | B.Skills of making tea. |
C.Tea procesing techniques. | D.Tea-related customs. |
8. What might be the best title of the passage?
A.China is full of cultural heritage. | B.UNESCO is a great organization. |
C.Chinese tea is different and unique. | D.Chinese tea is on UNESCO’s list. |